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Companies pleaded guilty for environmental violations

Empire Bulkers Limited and Joanna Maritime Limited — related companies based in Greece — have pleaded guilty to knowing violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act related to the 'Joanna'. The guilty pleas took place on May 26, 2022, in federal court in New Orleans before U.S. District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon. If the proposed plea agreement is approved by the court, the companies will be fined $2 million ($1 million each), and serve four years of probation subject to the terms of an environmental compliance plan that includes independent ship audits and supervision by a Court Appointed Monitor.

Owner and engineer indicted for violations of environmental and safety laws

The Greek owner and operator and the Chief Engineer of the 'Joanna' were indicted in U.S. Federal Court in New Orleans on Sep 30, 2021, for violations of environmental and safety laws. The four-count grand jury indictment alleged that Empire Bulkers Ltd., Joanna Maritime Ltd. and the Chief Engineer tampered with required oil pollution prevention equipment and falsified the ship's Oil Record Book. The Coast Guard found that the oily water separator had been bypassed by inserting a piece of metal into the oil content meter so that it could only detect clean water instead of what was actually being discharged overboard. According to the indictment, the Chief Engineer and the shipping companies falsified the log and sought to obstruct the Coast Guard?s inspection. The defendants also were charged with violating the Ports and Waterways Safety Act by failing to immediately report a hazardous situation that affected the safety of the ship and threatened U.S. ports and waters. During the inspection on March 11, 2021, the Coast Guard discovered an active fuel oil leak in the ship?s purifier room that resulted from disabling the fuel oil heater pressure relief valves, an essential safety feature designed to prevent catastrophic fires and explosions.

Divers to clear rudder of iron chain

The Vung Tau port authorities sent licensed diver surveys the rudder to conduct cutting work at the rudder of the "Eleni". The chain of Buoy 2 was wrapped around the rudder and propeller, causing a steering loss and subsequently the collision with the "Heung A Dragon". The Vung Tau Port authorities took initial testimony of the involved parties.